by Tyler Durden, Zerohedge

Given the very noticeable rise in threatening rhetoric focused on Iran over the past week, it seems thoughts of regime change in Tehran are once again top of the agenda. Or perhaps simultaneously the administration needs a significant distraction of sorts amid the coronavirus pandemic, and the persistent national reopening question and agenda.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went gloves off on Twitter, attacking Iran's 'Supreme Leader' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blasting him as “anti-Semitic”, “disgusting” and as someone representing “hate speech,” according to Pompeo's remarks.
He announced new sanctions on the Iranian government, specifically targeting the Minister of Interior, Abdolreza Rahmani, as well as top intelligence officials, for leading protest crackdowns and human rights violations.

But Pompeo didn't stop at Iran, in follow-up tweets coming just minutes and hours apart calling out the “dictatorial Castro regime” as well as Maduro, urging “peaceful democratic transition for Venezuela” — or again in other words regime change.
Within a few hours he issued no less than nine tweets targeting Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela. On Cuba the US top diplomat called out the “Castro regime” who has “trampled the rights of the Cuban people”.

“I salute the brave Cubans who continue the fight for democracy and prosperity. The United States stands with you,” he added.

White House and State Department briefings have been COVID-19 focused of late, whether on the domestic front or abroad — where the administration has been in a blame-game war of words with China over the virus origins and accompanying economic shutdown — but Wednesday's Pompeo tweet rampage strongly suggests he's ready to get back to the business of regime change.

Recall that last summer was dominated by 'tanker wars' in the gulf and Mediterranean. It appears we're in for another hot one.

More at source including tweets:

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/regime-change-air-pompeo-calls-change-government-iran-cuba-venezuela

(Comment: It is possible that with the 5 tankers sailing from Iran towards Venezuela that the US may prevent them from being delivered to Venezuelan ports. The five tanker ships are carrying gasoline, kerosene and perhaps other oil products from Iranian refineries - that was paid for in over $40 million in gold by Venezuela. Iran and Venezuela both have said they will defend the ships and if they are bothered or detained in any way they will take steps to defend the ships with military force. This may ignite a confrontation between the US military and Venezuela and possibly Iran. And, if Cuba gets involved in any way they could also be targeted as well. It is anyone's guess how much it would escalate from that point. The ships are already in the middle of the Atlantic and few days away from the Caribbean. George Eaton)